Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2019	May 05, 2018
Net sales	$ 5,504	$ 5,541
Credit card revenues, net	172	157
Cost of sales	(3,403)	(3,382)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,112)	(2,083)
Gains on sale of real estate	43	24
Impairment and other costs	(1)	(19)
Operating income (loss)	203	238
Benefit plan income, net	7	11
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(47)	(66)
Interest Expense, Other	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	163	183
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(27)	(52)
Net income (loss)	136	131
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	8
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	136	139
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	142	138
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	8
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	142	146
Parent
Net sales	0	0
Credit card revenues, net	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0
Impairment and other costs	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Benefit plan income, net	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	5	4
Interest Expense, Other	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	132	136
Income (loss) before income taxes	137	140
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(1)	(1)
Net income (loss)	136	139
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	136	139
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	142	146
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	142	146
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,154	2,008
Credit card revenues, net	(2)	(6)
Cost of sales	(1,341)	(1,320)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(803)	(828)
Gains on sale of real estate	24	23
Impairment and other costs	0	0
Operating income (loss)	32	(123)
Benefit plan income, net	3	4
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(53)	(71)
Interest Expense, Other	(19)	(18)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(30)	102
Income (loss) before income taxes	(67)	(106)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	24	37
Net income (loss)	(43)	(69)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(43)	(69)
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(38)	(63)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(38)	(63)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	4,768	5,363
Credit card revenues, net	174	163
Cost of sales	(3,480)	(3,892)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,309)	(1,255)
Gains on sale of real estate	19	1
Impairment and other costs	(1)	(19)
Operating income (loss)	171	361
Benefit plan income, net	4	7
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	1
Interest Expense, Other	19	18
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	195	387
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(50)	(88)
Net income (loss)	145	299
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	8
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	145	307
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	149	303
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	8
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	149	311
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(1,418)	(1,830)
Credit card revenues, net	0	0
Cost of sales	1,418	1,830
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0
Impairment and other costs	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Benefit plan income, net	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0
Interest Expense, Other	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(102)	(238)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(102)	(238)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0
Net income (loss)	(102)	(238)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(102)	(238)
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(111)	(248)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ (111)	$ (248)